Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Tale of Land of No Name - Final Episode

Moreandmorepeople are coming
to theland of nonames. Theoldercitizen of Land of no Names feltthattheywere not wanted anymore. Eventhoughtheyfeltthatway, theycontinued to do their choresandworks
without complaint.

One day, there wasnewsblowing across theland of nonamesthatthepowerfulking is planning to take over the Land of no Names.

“I don’t know. They will simplychoosetheonetheydon’t wantand
out yougo.”

“Hmmm… you are pulling my leg, right Matthew?” John stoppedwalking.

Matthew justshook his headandcontinued
to walk towards his house.
John quickened his steps to join Matthew. Suddenly Matthew stoppedandturned
his body to look at his cornfields. Thevastfieldwas
his property, andhedidn’t want
to leavethefield.

“What ifthekingchooses me?” Hemumbled.

“I don’t want to leave,” heshoutedandquicklyturnedandwalked
to his house.

Jane went to thekitchen to preparefordinner. Matthew continued to lookoutsidethinking about his future.

Fewmonthslater,
the rumors becametrue. One district after another has beenasked
to selectwho should be asked to leavethecongestedand overpopulated
Land of No Names. Matthew and John wereworriedthatthey would be selected.

“I don’t want to go, John.”

“Ha? Youdon’t want to go?”

“No. I lovethisplace, and I don’t
think I can be apart from it.”

“Matthew, ifyou are selectedyouhavenochoice. Youhave to go. They will be payingyouandyou
can start a newlife outside this Land of No Name.”

Matthew wasshocked to hearthat John has planned. Heneverknewthat John and Sarah, their goodneighbor, has someplannediftheyselected.

“It is not toolate to startthinkingwhatyouwant to do,” said John softly to Matthew.

Matthew noddedandquicklywentback
to see Jane. Heknewthatheneeded to discuss with Jane
on their future. Upon reaching
his home, hestopped at thedoor.
Slowlyheraised
his handandtwistedtheknob,
at thesametimethinking on his plan.

Hewent to thekitchenwhere Jane usuallywas. Slowlyhewalked to Jane. Jane, whowasveryengrossed in kneadingtheflour, wasshocked to see Matthew. Normally, Matthew would still be at
thefield.

“What’swrongbaby?”

“Hmm… Did youhear anything
about peoplewasasked to leave Land of No Name?” asked Matthew.
“Yup I did. Why?” asked Jane.

“What if, we are selected to be the one?”

“Oh… justpack our thingsandgo.”

“Go whereandwhat to do?”

“Matt, I knewyou are worried about this. I havealreadycontacted
my sister in the North. Her husband has a mill, andifwewant to, we can join
them.”

Matthew’s spiritwentup. At least his wife
has someplanned, andnowhe
can breatheeasily.

“Thank youdear” Matthew gave his wife a kiss.As Matthew came out from his house, heheard
someone called his name. Heturnedandsaw Gabriel.
“What’sup, Gab?”
“Hmm… I heard there’s a rumor.”
“What rumor?”
“The one that anyone of us can be asked
to leavethisplace.”
Matthew nodded.
“I’mscared. I’m not ready Matt.”
“Pray thatyou are not selected.” Matthew turned toward thefield.
Gabriel sighed.
“Gab, one morething. Startplanningforotherthingifyou are selected,”
shouted Matthew.

Two weekslater, the King called them to thecastle. John, Matthew, Richard,
and Thomas werecalled. All four knewthattheyweretheselected one.

“Dear all,” saidtheking, “You knewwhy
I calledyouhere, right?”

"Yes said John. Therestnodded.

“The newrulerwantedthepiece
of your lands. Theywanted to build a newcastlefortheking. You
will be paidforthelands.”

“How much, sir?” asked
Thomas.

“A lot. Will a pouch of goldcoinsenough?”
Heshowed a mediumsize of pouch
that has beenfilled with money.

The kingasked his general to handthepouch to the four of them.
There werenameswritten on thepouch.
The four openedthepouchandsmiled. Itwasmore than enough to lastforfewgenerations.

Theyrushedhomeandtold
their wives. Everyonewashappy. Whohavethoughtthat their land would purchasesuch a fortune?
Buttheydidn’t
knowthateach
of them receiveddifferentamount. It depends on thesizeandlocation of their land, but whatever it is, it is more than enough.

Gabriel upon hearingthat
Matthew and John wereselectedwasrelieved.
His namewas not mentioned, andhe
could continue with his life.
Gabriel went to see Matthew.
“Matt, I heardthenews.”
“Yup Gabriel. I wasselected,
but I’mveryhappy. Itgave
me an opportunityfor me to dootherthings.”
“You are not sad, Matt.”
“I am, butlife has to go on,” said Matthew with a satisfiedandhappygrin.
“All thebestmate.”
“You too.”Finally, thetime has come. Everything thattheywanted
has beenloaded into thewagon. Thekidsandthewiveshadsaid
goodbye. Matthew and John forthelasttimestoodtogetherlooking at thefields
which theyhavebeendoing since theyweresmall.

Theystoodtherereminiscingtheolddaysremembering
all theimportantevents that happened to them. Theyweresilent.
Nowords could describehowthefelt. Forthelasttime, theylooked at theplaceknowingthat,
it won’t be there anymore. Their
housesandfields
would be replaced by bigcastles.

Sara and Jane, whowatched from thewagon,
walked to their husband. Theystood beside their husbands. Holdinghandsandsaying
goodbye to theplace that has
served them.